Eni S.p.A.

Agip Division

COMPANY SPECIFICATION

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PRESSURE VESSELS

FOR APPLICATIONS IN H2S CONTAINING ENVIRONMENTS

05489.MAT.COR.SDS

Rev. 2

March 1997

2
REV.

General Revision
DESCRIPTION

CORM
COMP.

IMPI
VERIF.

CORM
APP.

March 97
DATE

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been
sent.

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 2 di 21

FOREWORD

Rev. 2

General Revision
No. Sheets 21
March 1997

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 3 di 21

CONTENT

GENERAL

1.1
1.2
1.2.1
1.2.2
1.2.3
1.2.4

Scope
Reference Normative
European normative references
Normative references of ISO, IEC and national organizations
Normative references of other organizations
Company Normative

FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.4.1
2.4.2
2.4.3
2.4.4
2.4.5
2.4.6
2.4.7

Definitions
Symbols and Abbreviations
Operating Environment
Functional Requirements for Piping
Fabrication process
Chemical composition
Heat and product analyses
Hardness
Defect repair
Non complying pipes and fittings
In service non complying pipes and fittings

2.5
2.5.1
2.5.2
2.5.3
2.5.4
2.5.5
2.5.6
2.5.7
2.5.8
2.5.9

Functional Requirements for Sheets for Pressure Vessels

Fabrication process
Chemical composition of sheets
Heat and product analyses
Non destructive testing
Hardness
Defect repair
Non complying sheets
Existing non complying pressure vessels
Stepwise Cracking tests

2.6
2.7
2.8
2.8.1
2.8.2

Ergonomics
Safety
Documentation
Piping
Pressure Wells Sheets

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 4 di 21

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

3.1
3.1.1
3.1.2
3.1.3

Annexes and appendixes. Corrosion mechanisms in H2S containing

environments
Sulphide Stress Cracking
Hydrogen Induced Cracking
Stress Oriented Hydrogen Induced Cracking (SOHIC) e Soft Zone Cracking (SZC)

3.2
3.2.1
3.2.2

Annexes and appendixes. H2S containing environments

Sour Conditions According to NACE
Sour Conditions According to EFC

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

GENERAL

1.1

Scope

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 5 di 21

This specification applies to materials for construction of pressure vessels for

applications in H2S containing environments.
The specification includes materials both as sheets and pipes.
Pipes and fittings are intended as made in carbon and low alloy steels and seamless.
In this document the requirements are provided to prevent Sulphide Stress Cracking
and Hydrogen Induced Cracking phenomena.
The specified requirements shall be intended as additional to those ones reported in the
following Company Specifications: 05490.EQP.MEC.SDS; 00190.PIP.MME.SDS
and 00191.PIP.MME.SDS.
The following topics are outside the scope of this document:
requirements for tubular to applied downhole;
fluid treatments to be performed in order to reduce their corrosivity;
corrosion monitoring methods;
requirements for materials different from carbon and low alloy steels.

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 6 di 21

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

1.2

Reference Normative

1.2.1

European normative references

1.2.2

EN 10028

Flat products made of steels for pressure purposes. 1st,

2nd and 3rd part.

UNI 663

Unalloyed steel seamless tubes. Plain ends tubes for

general purposes. Qualities, requirements and tests.

Normative references of ISO, IEC and national organisations

ISO 6507 1-3

1.2.3

Metallic Materials. Hardness Test. Vickers Test.

Normative references of other organisations

NACE MR0175

Standard Material Requirements - Sulphide Stress

Cracking Metallic Material for Oil Field Equipment.

NACE TM0177

Standard Test Method - Testing of Metals for

Resistance to Sulfide Stress Cracking at Ambient
Temperatures.

NACE TM0284

Standard Test Method - Evaluation of Pipeline Steels

for Resistance to Stepwise Cracking.

EFC 16

Guidelines on Material Requirements for Carbon and

Low Alloy Steels for H2S Containing Oil and Gas field
Service. The Institute of Materials.

ASTM A 578

Standard Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic

Examination of Plain and Clad Steel Plates for Special
Applications.

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 7 di 21

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

1.2.4

Company Normative
02555.VAR.COR.PRG

Design criteria. Internal corrosion. Corrosion parameters

and classification of the fluids.

00190.PIP.MME.SDS

Pipes for pressure vessels.

00191.PIP.MME.SDS

Sheets for pressure vessels.

05490.EQP.MEC.SDS

Pressure vessels.

20197.VAR.COR.SDS

Internal corrosion monitoring. Test point systems.

03587.MAT.COR.PRG

Metallic materials in contact with H2S containing

environments. Corrosion tests methods and evaluation
criteria.

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 8 di 21

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

FUNCTIONAL REQUIREM ENTS

2.1

Definitions
Carbon steel
An alloy of carbon and iron containing up to 2% carbon and up to 1.65% manganese
and residual quantities of other elements, except those intentionally added in specific
quantities for deoxidation (usually silicon and/or aluminium).
Low alloy steel
Steel with a total alloying element content lower than about 5 %. This definition includes
micro-alloyed steels containing small quantities of elements able to form carbides and
nitrides, as niobium, titanium and vanadium
Micro-alloyed steel
Steel with a total alloying element content lower than about 5 %.
H2S containing environment
See Par. 3.2 in this document.
Vickers Hardness
Vickers hardness is the recommended test for measuring hardness at welds. It is
performed by applying a load ranging from 50 g to 30 kg on a pyramidal diamond tip
and measuring the size of the impression after removing the load.

2.2

Symbols and Abbreviations

CE
HIC
SCC
SSC
SWC
SOHIC
SZC

2.3

Equivalent Carbon
Hydrogen Induced Cracking
Stress Corrosion Cracking
Sulphide Stress Cracking
Stepwise Cracking
Stress Oriented Hydrogen Induced Cracking
Soft Zone Cracking

Operating Environment
Piping and pressure vessels shall be suitable for operating at the environmental
conditions existing at the installation site as specified in the design datasheet.

2.4

Functional Requirements for Piping

Pipes shall be fabricated with steels covered by UNI 663 norm and in accordance with
Company Specification 00190.PIP.MME.SDS.
This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 9 di 21

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

2.4.1

Fabrication process
The steel shall be produced to be resistant to HIC (Hydrogen Induced Cracking) and
to SSC (Sulphide Stress Cracking).
The steel shall be produced by the basic oxygen process or by electric oven and with
low sulphur content.
All pipes and fitting shall be of the seamless type. The seamless pipes shall be hot rolled
and supplies in the as rolled conditions, normalised or normalised and tempered.

2.4.1.1

Cold working
For any pipe and fitting, cold working operations leading to a permanent outer fibre
deformation greater than 5 % are not admitted, if not followed by suitable heat
treatment.
When the permanent outer fibre deformation is greater than 5 %, resistance to Sulphide
Stress Cracking of cold worked materials shall be restored by normalisation and
tempering heat treatment. Also the stress relieving heat treatment at temperature of 620
C, or 650 C for micro-alloyed steels, is acceptable.

2.4.2

Chemical composition

2.4.2.1

Pipes
It is requested a sulphur content lower than 0.010 %.
The equivalent carbon calculated in accordance with the requirements of the EN 10028
norm:
CE = C +

Mn Cr + Mo + V Cu + Ni
+
+
6
5
15

shall be lower than 0.43.

If products are proposed with greater equivalent carbon contents, but in any case lower
than those one specified in the Company Specification 00190.PIP.MME.SDS, an
exception can be granted based on the results of weldability and hardness tests.
The weld shall be performed with automatic technique by gas metal arc welding
(GMAW) and at low heat input, not greater than 1,0 KJ/mm. The maximum hardness of

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 10 di 21

the weld metal, at the fusion boundary and of the heat affected zone shall be within the
limits specified at Par. 2.4.4.
2.4.2.2

Fittings
It is requested a sulphur content lower than 0,025 %.
The equivalent carbon shall comply with the above specified limit.

2.4.3

Heat and product analyses

The heat analysis shall be performed on each heat.
The product analysis shall be performed on each lot of pipes belonging to the same heat.
The number of product analysis shall be defined in the project documentation.
The above specified limits for sulphur and equivalent carbon shall be respected in both
heat and product analyses.

2.4.4

Hardness

2.4.4.1

Base metal
An hardness is requested lower than 220 HV10.
A hardness test shall be performed for each heat. The hardness test shall be performed
on a through thickness metallographically prepared sample, at the following locations:
in correspondence to the internal diameter;
in correspondence to the midline;
in correspondence to the external diameter.

2.4.4.2

Girth welds
During the welding procedure qualification, hardness tests shall be performed in order to
verify the above specified limits.
Girth welds shall be performed by qualified personnel in accordance with procedures
suitable to meet the following hardness limits:
root side in contact with process fluid:
max 250 HV10
cap side, in contact with atmosphere:
max 275 HV10
The hardness tests shall be performed in correspondence to: weld metal, fusion
boundary and heat affected zone.

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 11 di 21

Materials used for welding shall have a nickel content lower than 2.2 %.
Hardness tests on girth welds performed by sampling on site, if requested, shall be
specified in the project documentation.
The post-weld heat treatment, at a temperature of 620 C or 650 C for micro-alloyed
steels, is requested when the above specified maximum hardness limits are not
respected.
The post-weld heat treatment shall be qualified by the stress corrosion cracking tests
specified in the Company Specification 03587.MAT.COR.PRG.
Number and type of samples and sampling procedure shall be defined case by case.

2.4.5

Defect repair
Defect repair by welding of the base metal of pipes and fittings is not allowed.

2.4.6

Non complying pipes and fittings

Use of pipes and fittings not complying with the requirements fixed in this document is
not recommended. Use of not complying sheets is permitted, within the limits fixed in
this document, only for the following parameters:
equivalent carbon, as in paragraph 2.4.2.1;
hardness, as in paragraph 2.4.4.2.

2.4.7

In service non complying pipes and fittings

In case of plants with in service piping non complying with the requirements specified in
this document, the following tests shall be carried out:
hardness tests;
stress corrosion cracking tests;
Hydrogen Induced Cracking tests.
The Stress Corrosion Cracking and Hydrogen Induced Cracking tests shall be
performed in accordance with the Company Specification 03587.MAT.COR.PRG.
Number and type of samples as well as sampling procedure shall be defined case by
case.

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 12 di 21

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

2.5

Functional Requirements for Sheets for Pressure Vessels

Sheets for the construction of pressure vessels shall be fabricated with steels complying
with the norm EN 10028, Part 3 and in accordance with the Company Specification
00191.PIP.MME.SDS.

2.5.1

Fabrication process
The steel shall be:
produced by the basic oxygen process or by electric oven;
with low sulphur content;
calcium treated for inclusion control.
Steel produced by continuous casting and degassed under-vacuum are preferred.

2.5.1.1

Cold working
In case the cold working of the sheets during the bending phase was greater than 5 %,
same requirements defined for piping will apply.

2.5.2

Chemical composition of sheets

It is requested a sulphur content lower than 0.003 %.
The Ca/S ratio shall be greater than 2.
The equivalent carbon calculated with the CE formula reported at paragraph 2.4.2.1
shall be below the following limits:

Grade

P275

P355 and P460

CEV

0.40

0.43

If products are proposed with greater equivalent carbon contents, but in any case lower
than those one specified in the Company Specification 00191.PIP.MME.SDS, an
exception can be granted based on the results of weldability and hardness tests. The
weld shall be performed with the same procedure adopted for the construction of the
vessel.
The maximum hardness of the weld metal, at the fusion boundary and of the heat
affected zone shall be within the limits specified at Par. 2.5.5.2.
This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

2.5.3

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 13 di 21

Heat and product analyses

The heat analysis shall be performed on each heat.
The product analysis shall be performed on each sheet or part of it used for pressure
vessel construction.
The above specified limits for sulphur and equivalent carbon shall be respected in both
heat and product analyses.

2.5.4

Non destructive testing

All the sheets shall be ultrasonically inspected in accordance with ASTM A578.
The inspection procedure and the defect acceptability level shall be in accordance to
what specified as Level 2.
In case of sheets with thickness greater than 100 mm, the additional requirements
specified in ASTM A578 Section S8 shall be applied.

2.5.5

Hardness

2.5.5.1

Base metal
An hardness is requested lower than 220 HV10.
A hardness test shall be performed for each heat. The hardness test shall be performed
on a through thickness sample, metallographically prepared in the following locations:
in correspondence to the external and internal sides;
in correspondence to the midline.

2.5.5.2

Welds
During the welding procedure qualification, hardness tests shall be performed in order to
verify the above specified limits.
Welds shall be performed by qualified personnel in accordance with procedures suitable
to meet the following hardness limits:
root side in contact with process fluid:
max 250 HV10
cap side, in contact with atmosphere:
max 275 HV10

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 14 di 21

The hardness tests shall be performed in correspondence to: weld metal, fusion
boundary and heat affected zone, root pass, filling pass and cap pass.
Materials used for welding shall have a nickel content lower than 2.2 %.
The post-weld heat treatment, at 620 C or at 650 C for micro-alloyed steels, is
requested when the above specified maximum hardness limits are not respected.
The post-weld heat treatment shall be qualified by tests to be defined among those ones
specified in the Company Specification 03587.MAT.COR.PRG.

2.5.6

Defect repair
Defect repair by welding is not allowed.

2.5.7

Non complying sheets

Use of sheets not complying with the requirements fixed in this document is not
recommended. Use of not complying sheets is permitted, within the limits fixed in this
document, only for the following parameters:
equivalent carbon, as in paragraph 2.5.2;
hardness, as in paragraph 2.5.5.2.
Sheets not complying with the requirements for the fabrication process and for sulphur
content fixed in this document, shall be positively pass the Hydrogen Induced Cracking
resistance test (Stepwise Cracking test) in accordance with requirements and
acceptance criteria defined in the Company Specification 03587.MAT.COR.PRG.
The test shall be performed for each non complying sheet. In case of sheets coming
from the same heat, a test shall be performed for each non complying heat.

2.5.8

Existing non complying pressure vessels

In case of pressure vessels already in service and non complying with the requirements
specified in this document, the following tests shall be carried out:
Stress Corrosion Cracking tests;
Stepwise Cracking tests.
The tests shall be performed in accordance with the Company Specification
03587.MAT.COR.PRG.
Number and type of samples as well as sampling procedure shall be defined case by
case.
This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 15 di 21

Stepwise Cracking tests

Hydrogen Induced Cracking tests could be in any case requested in the project
documentation in connection with specific aspects including:
high H2S content in the fluids treated in the pressure vessels;
high sheet thickness;
design pressure.
2.6

Ergonomics
Not applicable.

2.7

Safety
Not applicable.

2.8

Documentation

2.8.1

Piping

2.8.1.1

Documentation stating the fabrication process of pipes and fittings;

certificates for heat analysis for pipes and fittings;
certificates for product analysis for pipes and fittings;
certificates of welding procedure qualification;
certificates for base metal hardness test;
certificates for girth weld hardness test.

Non Complying Pipes and Fittings

The following additional documentation is requested:
certificates for hardness tests after post-weld heat treatment;
certificates for Stress Corrosion Cracking laboratory tests;

2.8.1.2

Existing Non Complying Piping

The following additional documentation is requested:
certificates for Stress Corrosion Cracking laboratory tests.

2.8.2

Pressure Wells Sheets

Documentation stating the fabrication process;

heat analyses certificates;
product analyses certificates;
certificates for welding procedure qualification;
certificates for base metal hardness test;

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

2.8.2.1

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 16 di 21

certificates for weld hardness test;

certificates for non destructive test examination.

Non Complying Sheets

The following additional documentation is requested:
certificates for hardness tests after post-weld heat treatment;
certificates for Stress Corrosion Cracking tests;
certificates for Stepwise Cracking tests.

2.8.2.2

Existing Non Complying Pressure Vessels

The following additional documentation is requested:
certificates for Stress Corrosion Cracking tests;
certificates for Stepwise Cracking tests.

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 17 di 21

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

3.1

Annexes and
environments

3.1.1

Sulphide Stress Cracking

appendixes.

Corrosion

mechanisms

in

H2S

containing

Sulphide Stress Cracking (SSC) occurs on susceptible metallic materials when specific
conditions are met, normally represented by presence of H2S and mechanical stress
solicitations, applied or residual.
With reference to the conditions met in the oil and gas production, the environments
which lead to SSC of susceptible materials, in particular carbon and low alloy steels, are
defined acid by H2S or sour.

3.1.2

Hydrogen Induced Cracking

The term Hydrogen Induced Cracking includes both superficial damage phenomena
(blistering) and crack phenomena occurring without any applied or residual stress
contribution, as stepwise micro cracks.
Such cracks occur when atomic hydrogen diffuses in the metal and then recombines as
hydrogen molecular at trap sites in the steel matrix. Favourable trap sites are typically
found in rolled products along elongated inclusions or segregated bands of
microstructure. The molecular hydrogen is trapped within the metal at interfaces
between the inclusions and the matrix and in microscopic voids, with first a crack
initiation phase and then propagation along the metallurgical structures sensitive to this
type of hydrogen embrittlement.
As more hydrogen enters the voids the pressure rises, deforming the surrounding steel
so that blisters may become visible at the surface. The steel around the crack becomes
highly strained and this can cause linking of adjacent cracks to form SWC. The array of
cracks have a characteristic stepped appearance.
Whilst individual small blisters or hydrogen induced cracks do not affect the load
bearing capacity of equipment they are an indication of a cracking problem which may
continue to develop unless corrosion is stopped At the stage when cracks link up to
form SWC damage these may serious affect the integrity of equipment. Failure due to
these types of cracking have arising within months of start-up. Control of the
microstructure reduces the availability of crack initiation sites and is therefore critical to
the control of SWC.

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 18 di 21

Cathodic protection, when applied, opposes to hydrogen escape from the metal matrix.
The most susceptible materials are rolled steels containing inclusions in the metal matrix,
in particular C-Mn steels containing manganese sulphide Type II inclusions.
The likelihood of HIC occurrence in seamless and forged pipes is lower than in welded
pipes.

3.1.3

Stress Oriented Hydrogen Induced Cracking (SOHIC) e Soft Zone Cracking (SZC)
SOHIC and SZC are related to both SSC and SWC.
SOHIC and SZC are related to both SSC and SWC. In SOHIC staggered small
cracks are formed approximately perpendicular to the principal stress (applied or
residual) resulting in a "ladder-like" crack array. The mode of cracking can be
categorises as SSC caused by a combination of external stress and the local straining
around hydrogen induced cracks. SOHIC has been observed in patent material of
longitudinal welded pipe.
Soft Zone Cracking is the name given to a similar phenomenon when it occurs
specifically in softened heat affected zones of welds in rolled plate steels. The
susceptibility of such weld regions to this type of cracking is thought to arise because of
a combination of microstructural effects caused by the temperature cycling during
welding and local softening in the intercritical temperature heat affected zone. This
results in strains within a narrow zone which may approach or even exceed the yield
strain.
SOHIC has caused service failures of pipelines in the past but there are no reported
failures by SOHIC in modern micro alloyed line pipe steels produced for service in H2S
with mandatory testing for SWC and SSC.

3.2

Annexes and appendixes. H2S containing environments

The requirements specified in this document applies to piping and pressure vessels in oil
and gas treatment plants in contact with fluids containing H2S at conditions defined sour
conditions.
Sour conditions are defined in accordance to NACE MR0175 or to EFC 16, as
summarised here below.
Conservatively, any environment shall be defined sour when the H2S partial pressure,
pH2S, is greater than 0.0035 bar (0.00035 MPa).

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 19 di 21

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

Sour Conditions According to NACE

In accordance to NACE MR0175 the following conditions are defined sour:
gas systems
P > 5 bar (0,5 MPa) and pH2S > 0,0035 bar (0,00035 MPa)
multi-phase systems
P > 20 bar (2 MPa) and pH2S > 0,0035 bar (0,00035 MPa);
5 < P < 20 bar (0,5 < P < 2 MPa) and pH2S > 0,65 bar (0,065 MPa);
P < 5 bar (0,5 MPa) and yH2S > 15 % (molar).
Figure 1. and 2. show graphically the above defined domains.

1000

Total Pressure - bar

3.2.1

Sour Service
100

10

1
0.0001

0.001

0.01

0.1

10

Hydrogen Sulphide molar fraction in gas phase yH2S - %

Fig. 1. - Sour environments according to NACE. Gas systems.

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 20 di 21

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

System Pressure - bar

1000

Sour Service
100

10

1
0.0001

0.001

0.01

0.1

10

100

Hydrogen Sulphide molar fraction in gas phase xH2S - %

Fig. 2. - Sour environments according to NACE. Multi-phase systems.

3.2.2

Sour Conditions According to EFC

The definition of sour environment according to EFC accounts for, beyond H2S content,
the pH of the water phase at operating conditions (pHin situ).
In accordance with the EFC standard, the following environments, or domains, are
defined (see also fig. 3.):
sour environments domain according to EFC
pHin-situ 3,5
pH2S = 0,01 1 bar (0,0010,1 MPa) and pHin-situ 5,5 + log pH2S (bar)
pH2S > 1 bar (0,1 MPa) and pHin-situ 5.5
sour / non-sour transition domain according to EFC
pH2S = 0,001 0,01 bar (0,0001 0,001 MPa) and 3,5 < pHin-situ 5.5 + log
pH2S
pH2S > 1 bar (0,1 MPa) and pHin-situ = 5,5 6,5
The limits proposed by EFC were derived for P110 Grade and shall be considered
applicable for steels normally used for pipes and for pressure vessel sheets.
The pHin-situ shall be determined as defined in the EFC 16 document, Annex C, or it can
be calculated using suitable software programs.

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.

05489.MAT.COR.SDS
Rev. 2
March 1997
Sheet 21 di 21

Eni S.p.A.
Agip Division

All situations outside the above specified limits define the non-sour domain, where also
susceptible materials can be used.
Conservatively, conditions within the sour / non-sour transition domain shall be regarded
as sour conditions.
7.5

6.5

Solution pH

Transition Region
5.5

4.5

Sour Service

3.5

2.5
0.0001

0.001

0.01

0.1

10

100

Hydrogen Sulphide Partial Pressure (pH2S - bar)

Fig. 3. Sour environments according to EFC.

This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.